Three generations of our family eight years ago. Taken at the front of our church in Minneapolis.

The thought of not celebrating Easter in church is almost impossible for me to imagine, but this year will be a first for all of us. The church we used to attend would adorn the altar area with potted, spring flowers, ferns and a statue of the risen Savior. It made the perfect backdrop for family photographs such as the one above. My daughter is now a blond. My granddaughter is now a Junior in high school and I’m a retired drama teacher, living the dream.

We’ve changed during those eight years. We still possess the ability to smile. We still go to church together. We still love each other dearly, but even the life of my teenaged granddaughter is so different than what I experienced growing up.

This particular Easter, eggs will be painted and hunted for but not beyond the confines of our own backyards.. There will be chocolate bunnies and peeps. There will be jelly beans galore. There will be special dinners, but there will be no church – at least not as we knew it. We can still tune into the internet and observe from afar. We’ll be able to play inspirational music and FaceTime or Zoom each other, but it won’t be the same. Someone suggested that we all sing Amazing Grace in our limited space outside at the same time of 10 AM. Those voices would not only be a way to thank God for life everlasting, but to fill our hearts with even more joy.

The thought of an empty church on Easter is unthinkable, but it will happen this year. While feeling bad about that, I couldn’t help being reminded of the first Easter. That Sunday morning when Mary went to anoint the body of her Savior and was met with the unthinkable. The stone had been rolled away and the tomb was empty. EMPTY! Jesus no longer was held captive to the grave. He’d risen indeed!

Our churches may be empty this Easter, but so was the tomb which held Jesus’ bruised and smitten body since Good Friday. The unbelievable had happened.

Dear, Lord, Jesus,

As we come to the end of the Lenten season, fill our hearts with excitement. You alone are the reason for this precious season of Easter. Your passion for us was immeasurable. Your sacrifice so great that it’s impossible for us to comprehend. Our places of worship have been closed, because of this pandemic, yet our hearts are full and ready to praise you for what you’ve done. Help us to make this an Easter to remember – one that mimics the first one. The church is empty, but so was your tomb. You overcame death and with that we have the assurance of eternal life. Amen!

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About atimetoshare.me

As I reach the end of my years, I find I have a lot of good information stored up in this old decrepit mind of mine. If I don't write it all down, it may vanish and no one will have the advantage of my thoughts. This is why this blog exists. I love the Lord, Jesus with all my heart and soul. I know I'm undeserving of all He's done for me, but I also know that His love is beyond my comprehension.
I've always wanted to write. I never kept diaries, but tucked my thoughts in my head for future reference. I use them now in creating stories, plays, poetry and my blog.
I continue to learn every day. I believe the compilation of our time spent with God will have huge affect on the way we live. I know I'm a sinner and I need a Savior. I have One through Jesus, Christ.
My book, "Stages - a memoir," is about the seven stages of life from the perspective of a woman. It addresses all the things girls and women go through in life as they travel it with Jesus, and it is available on Amazon.com.

4 Responses to THE EMPTY CHURCH

Kathy, your words are filled with truth as we prepare for an Easter unlike anything from our past. I appreciate the connection between our empty churches as we rejoice in the empty tomb on Resurrection Sunday. Jesus is walking with us.

First, what beautiful ladies 🙂
Secondly, yep, a different type of Easter to be sure.
It’s suppose to rain here all day Sunday—seems everything wants to literally rain on the parade.
We’ll probably let the kids egg hunt Saturday.
I braved the world today and bought what we’d need for a traditional Easter lunch…
I think I’ll set a pretty table…one normal thing
But the good news in all of this—Easter is still Easter…!!!

As I reach the end of my years, I find I have a lot of good information stored up in this old decrepit mind of mine. If I don't write it all down, it may vanish and no one will have the advantage of my thoughts. This is why this blog exists. I love the Lord, Jesus with all my heart and soul. I know I'm undeserving of all He's done for me, but I also know that His love is beyond my comprehension.
I've always wanted to write. I never kept diaries, but tucked my thoughts in my head for future reference. I use them now in creating stories, plays, poetry and my blog.
I continue to learn every day. I believe the compilation of our time spent with God will have huge affect on the way we live. I know I'm a sinner and I need a Savior. I have One through Jesus, Christ.
My book, "Stages - a memoir," is about the seven stages of life from the perspective of a woman. It addresses all the things girls and women go through in life as they travel it with Jesus, and it is available on Amazon.com.

As I reach the end of my years, I find I have a lot of good information stored up in this old decrepit mind of mine. If I don't write it all down, it may vanish and no one will have the advantage of my thoughts. This is why this blog exists. I love the Lord, Jesus with all my heart and soul. I know I'm undeserving of all He's done for me, but I also know that His love is beyond my comprehension.
I've always wanted to write. I never kept diaries, but tucked my thoughts in my head for future reference. I use them now in creating stories, plays, poetry and my blog.
I continue to learn every day. I believe the compilation of our time spent with God will have huge affect on the way we live. I know I'm a sinner and I need a Savior. I have One through Jesus, Christ.
My book, "Stages - a memoir," is about the seven stages of life from the perspective of a woman. It addresses all the things girls and women go through in life as they travel it with Jesus, and it is available on Amazon.com.

...Let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith... Hebrews 12:1b-2a